Encomium
Jubilation in APC camp as Ladoja-Akala accord splits
The political climate in Oyo, the Pacesetter State, became cloudy days back when the news of break-up in the hitherto strong and influential Ladoja-Akala accord filtered into town, allegedly leading to wide jubilation in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) camp in the state.
This, we were told by a political pundit, has paved way for APC to brighten its chances of retaining the governorship seat, come 2015.
The source explained that the incumbent governor, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi and some party faithful celebrated the development at Agodi, the state’s seat of power, a couple of days back, telling one another that the impediment to Ajimobi’s second term bid has been removed.
However, according to the source, the cause of the new crisis between Accord Party (AP) leader and former governor of the state, Alhaji Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja and his former deputy and rival, Otunba Christopher Alao Akala, was said to have been predicated on who picks the guber ticket if eventually the merger between Accord Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) works.
Meanwhile, Akala’s loyaltists, especially those from his home town, Ogbomoso, we were told, have insisted that the ex-super cop must run for the number one seat of the state once more. Akala was said to have yielded to the yearnings of his people; hence the decision to call it quits with Ladoja, his former boss before he eventually took over from him in a controversial circumstance in 2006.
Since both of them reportedly fell apart, Ladoja was said to have started re-grouping his loyalists, reinvigorating his camp ahead 2015 general elections. Akala, we also learnt, has been going round all the constituencies in the state soliciting the support of the PDP faithful to enable him bear the flag of the party, come 2015.
The source said further, “I can assure you, the chances of Governor Abiola Ajimobi triumphing in 2015 governorship election is very bright at the moment, irrespective of ‘no-second tradition that has been on for long in Oyo State. The truth is that Ladoja and Akala can’t come together again. Both of them are politically incompatible. Now, the only party that can stop Ajimobi is Labour Party, which is also in disarray right now on account of who will represent the party in the 2015 guber race. “So, it’s obvious that APC will
still retain the state if the party works on the internal crisis rocking it at the moment.”
ENCOMIUM Weekly got across to one of Akala’s loyalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, Alhaji Ganiyu Mukaila Oluwanbe. He assured that PDP will wrestle power from APC in 2015.
“I don’t understand what you mean by the split in Ladoja-Akala accord. PDP is not banking on any accord to win the governorship election in Oyo State. If Akala contests with any of the aspirants, he will defeat the person. Ajimobi or APC is not a threat to Akala. We all want him, that’s why he is coming out, and it’s under PDP.”
All effort to get Governor Ajimobi’s reaction to the tale, via his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Festus Adedayo couldn’t yield the desired result. When we contacted him on Thursday, July 31, 2014, he said he was very busy to attend to such an issue at that moment, but promised to get back to us. But we didn’t hear from him again.
We later sent him a text message on Sunday, August 3, 2014, which he didn’t reply till we went to press.
TADE ASIFAT
